Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8/Ps 138:1-2,2-3,4-5,7-8/1Cor 15:1-11/Luke 5:1-11.

Rev Fr Peter Paul

Theme: Majestic power of God.

For Isaiah, God is a majestic King. This majesty is vast and surrounded by a train of holiness. Indeed, the Lord is enrobed with holiness(Ps 97). In such a majestic encounter, we come to understand that God's majestic and awesome holiness is charmingly attractive. Like the experience of the burning Bush, he charms us for an encounter(Exod 3:1-6).

We come to acknowledge and admit our unworthiness before him. Unlike Isaiah and Simon, we wish that He departs from us. This rather becomes a turning point, the point of reference for a mission.

After such an encounter, Isaiah is empowered through the cleansing to be able to respond faithfully to the call. Simon also made an appraisal of his occupation and the encounter with the powerful and holy Lord and together with his brother and neighbors, left everything and followed Jesus.

Isaiah's encounter would lead him to refer to God as "the Holy One of Israel". God is a thrice-holy God. As for the first four disciples, Jesus is all-powerful. It is a holy person who can wrought miracles and wonders. This omnipotence of God is expressed in the image of the wings of the angels.

Actually and verily, angels do not have wings. They are pure spirits. They are clothed with human nature for missions as they are messengers. The nuance of these wings simply means mobility. They are not limited to the spatiotemporal entity.

The wings that cover their faces mean to venerate. No one sees God and lives(Gen 32:31; Ex 33:20; Judges 13:22). God is an awesome God. We come to venerate and adore his presence.

The other two, cover their feet. Metaphorically, feet mean sexual parts(Ezek 1:10-12; 10:4-15). Through, his angels he covers our sins; our nakedness. This is corroborated by the action of one of the seraphim who touched the lips of Isaiah and said to Isaiah, "Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sins purged"(Isaiah 6:7).

Strikingly and surprisingly, Isaiah is enabled to respond to the call without any reservation and said "Here I am, send me"(Isaiah 6:8). Simon and his partners, James and John responded by renouncing everything and followed Jesus.

They had come to believe that they would lack nothing. Jesus is enough for them. In fact, He is more worthwhile than their occupation that is unstable.

The call of Isaiah is the basis of our "Sanctus" in the liturgy. Whenever we sing the Sanctus, it must resonate in our hearts and minds the holiness of God. The Church reminds us always of God's holiness in the Church by the presence of the sanctuary lamp. All we need is always genuflect or bow in adoration.

Peter bowed to the power of Jesus and miracles followed. Whenever we acknowledge and admit the Omnipotence of God, miracles follow.

God is majestically powerful to transform and empower us for greater exploits. Ours is to trustingly, like Peter, entrust ourselves into His providential hands.

Let us bend the knees of our hearts to acknowledge our frailties and nothingness before the power of God. May He bless and keep us all.

We pray for God's strength for the clergy and religious. God loves you precious one.

Have a blessed day.

+Padre Petros Paulos+